Suction cleaner



Dc. 13, 1938. w. D. SELLERS ET Al.

SUCTION CLEANER File'd Dec. 30, 1935 5 SheetS-Shet' 1 INVENTORG.' Eacond ATTORNEY 1 W. Jelle/'' Dec. 13 1938.

w. D. SELLERS ET AL SUCTION CLEANER Filed Deo. 50, 1935 3 Sheeis-Sheet .2

INVENTORS.'

2.140. ellemv ATTORNEY Dec. 13, 193s. w. D. SELLERS-ET ALA 2,140,143

' SUCTION CLEANER Filed Dec. 50, 1933 3 SheeS-Sheet 3 flyd ATTO RN EY Patented Dec. 13, i938 SUCTION CLEANER wllllnl'n n. sauer, Glen Ellyn, ana Earl Babcock, Evanston, lll., assignors to The Hoover Company, North (Hinton,l Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 30, 1983, Serial N0. 704,824

Z'lClaimS.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general and particularly to new and novel improvements in suction cleaners adapted for use with dusting tools. More specifically, the in- 6 vention comprises a suction cleaner construction in which a plurality of fans and a surface-contacting agitator are driven by a motor, there being means to disconnect the agitator and a suction-creating fan from the driving motor 10 when dusting tools yare connected to the cleaner,

at least one fan remaining connected to the cleaner for the purpose of providing suction for the dusting tools.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner. It is t another object of theinventlon to provide in `a suction cleaner a plurality of suction-creating fans combined with means to disconnect certain o1' said fans when dusting.tools are connected to the cleaner. A still further object is the'provision in a cleaner of suction-creating means and a driven surface-contacting agitator in combination with means to disconnect the agitatorfrom the motor during the period of dusting tool use. Still another object is the provision of a suction cleaner provided with automatic means to disconnect a suction-creating fan and a motordriven agitator from the motor by the connection of the dusting tool unit. A further object is the provision of a suction cleaner in which the attachment of the dusting tool unit automatically disconnects the agitator from the'driving'motor and changes the motor circuit to insure greater' suction in the dusting tools. These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims,`and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawings to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawings in which pre-'iv 40 ferred embodiments of the present invention are disclosed:

Figure l is a side elevation of a modern suction cleaner embodying the invention; i Figure 2 is a bottom view ofthe cleaner .shown 43 in Figure 1 with certain parts broken away and' Figure 6 is a section similar to Figure 4 through s third embodiment. of the invention ln 'which only one fan is provided and tho-agitator alone is disconnected from the driving motor when the dusting tools are attached;

Figure 6 is'a side view of a modern suction cleaner embodying a fourth embodiment of the 'invention and one in which means are provided 's to insure a higher-than-high motor speed when the dusting tools are connected;

'Figure '7 is a section upon the line 1-1 of Figure 6;

. Figure 8 is -a schematic showing of the elecl0 trical circuit of the motor of the last embodiment showing the arrangement by which the motor is caused to rotate at a higher-than-high speed when the dusting tools are connected.

creating means, comprising a plurality of -motordriven fans. draw cleaning air through the nomle and the fan chamber and exhaust it by way of the exhaust outlet into the dust bag. An agitator is positioned within the cleaner nozzle, being 20 driven' by the motor, and cooperates with the air stream in cleaning the surface covering. 'Ihe range of usefulness of this modern cleaner is enlarged through so constructing the machine I that it is adapted to work in combination with a 26 dusting tool unit. These dusting tools are well known and will not here be described, it being sufncient to say that when the dusting tools are used the machine is altered from an on-the-oor cleaner to an off-the-iloor cleaner. one adapted 30 to clean curtains, hangings etc. V

When the machine is used in combination with dusting tools the cleaner proper usually remains for appreciable periods of time in one position upon the oor. During this period it is not neces- 35- l sary that agitator be driven. Also, there is no desirable function served by driving the suctioncreating fan or fans which are not connected to the dusting tool'unit. In fact, to drive the agitator and an unused fan places a load upon 40 the motor which accomplishes no useful function. Additionally, when the cleaner is used with dusting tools itis desirable that a higher suction be provided than is requisite when the machine is used in on-the-floor cleaning with the agi- 46 tator. In a suction cleaner constructed in accordance with the present embodiment means are provided which cause the cleaner motor t0 rotate at its highest speed when thedusting tools are connected.

Referring now to Figures l to 3 inclusive, in particular, a suction cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention is disclosed. The cleaner comprises' a nozzle I, which is provided with surfacecontacting lips I and I, andll' In a modern type of suction cleaner suction- 15 which is interiorly connected by passageways 4 and I at its ends to the inlets of two spaced fan chambers 8 and 1. Between these two fan chambers, with its axis extended parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the nozzle I, is a driving motor 8. 'I'he stationary field l of the motor is ilxedly carried by the casing the ends of which form the inner side walls of the fan chambers i and 1. 'The rotating amature III is mounted upon an elongated centrally bored shaft I I which extends entirely through the motor casing and into the two fan chambers. The shaft is rotatably supported by bearings I2, I2 in the end walls which are provided with suitable seals to prevent air leakage from the fan chamber into the motor;

motor shaft II. Fan I3 functions, in the operation of the machine, to draw cleaning air from the nozzle I and to force it through the exhaust outlet I4 into the dust bag Il.

Within the fan chamber 1 lis positioned a second suction-creating fan I8 which is connected to the motor shaft Il in a novel manner and which functions, in the operation of the machine in on-the-oor cleaning, to draw air from the nozzle and exhaust it via the exhaust outlet I1 into the dust bag Il. The outlets I4 and I'I may be provided with separate dust bags or they' may open into the same bag Il, as shown in the drawings. In the latter event a dividing wall Il is preferably provided to form two bag portions.

Within the nomle I and extending longitudinally therein is the rotary agitator II of a modern and well known type which includes beating and brushing elements. Agitator II is provided with a pulley surface opposite the air passageway 5 and receives a power-transmitting belt 2l extended. through that passageway from the driving pulley 22 which is rotatable with the fan Il. As in the usual suction cleaner spaced pairs of front and rear supporting wheels 2l, 2l and 24, 24 are provided which movably support the cleaner upon the surface covering undergoing cleaning with the nozzle lips 2 and 2 above the normal plane of the covering. Suitable height-adjusting means 2l are provided for the front wheels 23, 23 for the purpose of adjusting the nozzle height. The cleaner also includes the pivoted handle 2i through which theoperator can e'xert the propelling force necessary in the operation of the cleaner in on-the-floor cleaning.

To provide for the use of dusting tools the air passageway' 4 is provided with an opening 24 imnon n accomplished by driving the :an ls and the mediately opposite the inlet of the fan chamber l, which opening is normally covered by a removable cover plate 21 when the machine is used in on- 70 the flexible hose 2l.

With the dusting tool connected no useful funcpulley 22. To disconnect these parts, therefore, an inner shaft or plunger Il is provided which extends the.entire length of the shaft II. The

suction-creating fan Il together with the pulley y 22 are rotatably mounted on this shaftl 30 within the fan chamber 'I and the passageway 5, respectively, being supported thereon by a roller bearing 2l. 'I'he inner shaft is slidable within the outer shaft, but is adapted to rotate therewith. A friction clutch 32 is provided which functions to secure fan I4 and pulley 22 to the shaft II, part` of the clutch being carried by the back of the fan and the opposing part by the shaft II'.

Clutch 32 is normally held closed by va coil spring 23 which is positioned between the adjacent ends of the two shafts. This spring exerts a force upon outer end of shaft I I and against an abutment member 34 carried by the reduced outer end of slidable inner shaft 30. The spring force urges abutment 34 from the end of shaft I I thereby pulling the shaft through the shaft Il and the clutch surface upon the fan Il into engagement with the frictional surface on the opposed member of the clutch carried by the shaft. `Protection for the spring 33 is provided by an enclosing cup l5 which is carried by the abutment member 34. 'A contact element I6 adapted to receive a. force to compress spring 3l and so disengage clutch 32 is positioned at the outer end of the shaft 3l being rotatable relative thereto, and also relative to the shaft I I, through being carried by an outer plate $2 of the abutment 34. Plate 30 is rotatable about a horizontal axis being spaced from the inner part of the abutment by balls 3l. Contact 36 is cup-shaped and encloses the abutment and the spring-protecting cup 35, being suitably sealed to the latter at its inner end to prevent the entrance of foreign matter to the balls 31.

The dusting tool unit 2l is formed with a stationary contact member Il arranged so as to abut contact element 3l upon the insertion of the unit into the machine. Element lll being rotatable relative to shafts II and lo, remains stationary when so contacted. With the unit locked in place by the screws 4l, 4|I the element Il has been urged inwardly by the stationary contact 39' against the force of spring 22; the inner shaft ll has been moved longitudinally within the outer shaft II and the fan I6 and the pulley 22 declutched. Upon the removal of the dusting tool 'unit the pressure exerted by member 39 upon the contact element l! disappears and the force exerted by spring 33 again moves the inner shaft to close the clutch 82. It is noted that no movement takes place between the contact elements Il and 3l as the element is rotatable relative to both the shaft I I and the shaft SII.

From Vthe foregoing it is believed that the operation of this embodiment of the invention is clear. It is believed to be clear that in onthe-floor cleaning both fans I3 and Il function to create a reduced pressure within the nozzle I, and that the rotary agitator Il in that nozzle is driven by the pulley 22 which rotates with the motor. Upon the connection of the dusting tool unit 2l the driving pulley 22 and the fan Il are declutched at the clutch 32 upon the longif tudinal movement of the shaft, III which is moved against the force exerted by the spring I3.

Referring now to Figure 4 in particularl a second embodiment ofthe invention is disclosed in which the fan chamber I is provided with a suction-creating fan 4l which is fixedly connected to the shaft Il. The driving pulley 22 is again rotatable relative to the slidable shaft Il.

however, by means of the bearing Il compris- 1| f dusting toolsis the same as in the first described ing roller elements. The clutch in the present instance is indicated by the reference character 46 and is formed upon the outer face of the fan l5 and in an extension of the pulley 22. 'I'he declutching operation is accomplished in a manner similar to that described. in connection with the first embodiment. In vthe operation of the cleaner with the dusting tools the pulley 22 alone remains stationary, being held by the belt 2l, and rotates relative tothe remainder of Y the moving4 parts'through beingy carried by its bearing 3i.

Referring now to Figure 5 in particular, a third embodiment of the invention is disclosed in which the fan chamber 1 of the previous embodiments, together with the suction-creating fan positioned therein, has been eliminated and the air passageway 5 has been transformed into a channel the sole function of which is to house the powertransmitting belt 2|. In this embodiment the driving pulley 22 is rotatably mounted upon the slidable shaft 30 by means of thev bearing 3i but is adapted to be clutched and rotated with the shaft Il and the shaft 30 by means of a` friction clutch 41, onel part of which is ,carried by a sloping inner face of the extended pulley while the opposing part is carried by a member 49 formed upon the extended end of the shaft H. Upon the attachment of the dustingtools in the present embodiment'the driving pulley for the power-transmitting belt is declutched alone, there being no second fan either. to rotate with the motor or -to remain stationary with'the clutch. Referring/.now to Figures -6 to .8 inclusive a still` further embodiment of the invention is shown.

'Iherelationship .of the parts andthe functional operation of the cleaner upon the attachment of embodiment with the exception that means are also provided which alter the electrical circuit of the cleaner motor automatically upon `the attachment of the dusting tool unit. To -accomplish this result a contact housing'59 is positioned immediately adjacent the opening 26 of the passageway 4 and within this housing is mounted a spring-pressed contact member 5i which functions in its normal position to close f two normally open electrical contacts A, A. Up-

on the attachment of the converter unit 28, however, the contact plunger 5| is depressed, against the force of its ownispring, by means ci a shoulder member or arm 52 carried by the unit, and the contacts A, A are permittedto open and a second pair of contacts B, B are closed. The

functional results of this change inclosed contacts is hereinafter set forth.

Referring now to Figure 8 in particular it is seen that incoming power leads to, the motor, comprising the leads 5l and 55, enter the cleaner by way of the cleaner handle where the lead 54- extends to the handle switch 56. At the switch 56 the lead is divided into a lead Sla-and a lead 54h, the former extending to the contacts A, A and from there to the outside or low speed connection of one of the motor ield windings 9.

The lead 54h extends directly from the switch 56 to a central tap of the iield winding 9, known as the high speed connection of the motor.l The second incoming lead .55 extends directlyto the motor and connects to one side of a-second iield winding 9. A continuation oi' this lead, indi- .g

cated by the reference character 55a, extends from the eld tap through the contacts B, B to a resistance R which is connected by a lead 49|) around the-field winding portion 9. With the resistance R in the motor circuit, where it will be placed and in parallel with the second ileld portion 9 upon the closing of the contacts B, B,

the motor speed will be increased.

In the operation of this last embodiment-of the invention in on-the-oor cleaning the con- -tacts A, Aare forced together by the-plunger member 5l in its normal positionand the motor rotates at either low speed or high speed depending upon whether the switch 55 places the lead 54a or the lead 54h in the motor circuit.'

Upon the attachment oi! the dusting tool unit. howevenlcontacts A, A are permitted to open, the contacts: B,'B are closed, and the resistance, R is placed parallel with a part of the motor iield.

Upon the opening of the contacts A, .A the leadv 54a is disconnected from the motor circuit and r the only position of switch "which will cause the motor to rotate is that position in which the f f connection of a dusting to'ol unit' to said` body to disconnectcertain of said fans from said driving means.

2. Ina suction cleaner, suction-creating means adapted to be connected to a'dusting tool unit. a

driving motor including a plurality of circuits for various speeds connected to said suction-creating means. an agitator, power-transmission means between said motor and said agitator, meansto declutch n said -agitatorfromy said motor, and means -responsive to the'connection of a dusting tool unit to close certain of-said motor circuits.

3. 'I'he construction recitedby the preceding claim characterized in that the 'circuit closed upon the connection of, said dusting tool unit is the high speed circuit.

4. In a suction cleaner of the type adapted to receive a dusting tool unit, afnozzle, adriving motor, suction-creating means including a plural- -ity'lof fans connected to saidk nozzle, one of said fans being fixedly connected to said motor and a second fan connected through a clutch to said motor, said ilrst fan being adapted to be connected to-a dusting tool unit, and means to declutch automatically said second fan responsive to such connection.

5. In a suction cleaner, a driving motor, a nozzle, suction-creating means connected to said nozzle and including a plurality of fans, one of said fans Abeing fixedly connected to said motor `and adapted to be connected to a dusting tool unit, a second fan connected to said motor, va driving pulley, clutch means between said fan and pulley and said motor, a surface covering agitator, power-transmission means betweenv said pulley and said agitator, and means responsive to the connection of a dusting tool unitto declutch said second mentioned fan and said pulley from said lmotor. er

6. In a suction cleaner having a nozzle, a driv- -ing motor, a fan connected at each end of the motor to a rotating part thereof, fan ychambers including inlets and enclosing said fans, and airconducting means connecting said nozzle to said 15 inlets a clutch connecting one of said fans to a rotating part of said motor. and means to declutch one of said fans responsive to the connection of a dusting tool unit to the inlet of the fan chamber housing the other tan.

7. The construction recitedby claim 6 characterized in that said last mentioned means includes a slidable lshaft extended longitudinally through saidmotor and connected to said clutch and which is moved relative to said motor'by the l attachment Iof said unit.

8. In a suction cleaner` adapted to be converted into an ofI-the-iloor unit, a nozzle, a driving motor, a fan at one end of said motor connected to a rotating part thereof, a second fan at the opposite end of said motor, a pulley adjacent said second fam-means including a clutch connecting said second fan and said pulley to a rotating part of said motor, fan chambers having inlets enclosing said fans and open to said nozzle, an agitator' with its shaft extended parallel to the motor axis of rotation, power-transmitting means connecting said agitator to said pulley. and means responsive to the connection of a dusting tool unit to declutch said second-ian and said pulley from the 'motor upon the conversion ot said cleaner into an off-the-iloor unit. Y

y 9. The construction recited by the preceding claim characterized inv that said last mentioned means includes a slidable shaft extended longitudinally through said motor and connected to said clutch and which is moved relative to said motor upon said conversion. y

10. In a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, a driving motor, suction-creating means open to saidnozzle including a fan connected to said motor and a second fan, means including a clutch connecting said second fan to said motor, said motor including a plurality of circuits for various speeds, vand means to declutch said second fan automatically and to close. the high speed motor circuit responsive to the attachment of a dusting tool unit to said body and to said first fan.

11. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, spaced fan chambers, passageways connecting said nozzle to said chambers, fans in said chambers, a driving motor between said chambers and connected to said fans, clutch means between one of said fans and said motor, the second fan being flxedly connected to said motor, the passageway leading to the chamber containing the tlxedly connected fan having a dusting tool opening therein opposite said chamber, and means operated by the connection of a dusting tool unit to the chamber containing said xedly connected fan to open said clutchto render the fan connected thereto inoperative.

12'. The construction recited in the preceding `claim characterized in that a spring-pressed plunger extends longitudinally through said motor from said clutch to s'aid dusting tool unit which is moved longitudinally by said unit in its movement to its seat. f

-13. In a suction cleaner adapted for ,on-theiloor cleaning and for ofi-the-oor cleaning, .suction-creating means including a plurality of fans,

a driving motor for said fans. means connecting Y means responsive to said :conversion to disconnect certain oi' said fans from said motor.

14. In a suction cleaner, spaced fan chambers, air conducting passageways leading to said chambers and connecting said chambers to a iloor nozzle in normal cleaner operation, fans in said chambers, a driving motor between said chambers, a rotatable element of said motor connected to said fans, a clutch between one of said fans and` said element, an vaxially slidable plunger extended through said motor in the axis of rotation and adapted to disengage said clutch in one position, the passageway upon the opposite side of the motor from said declutchable fan being formed with a dusting tool opening, and a dusting tool unit adapted to be inserted through said opening tolseal with the adjacent `fan chamber, said unit being provided with means. to contact said plunger to move it to its declutching position.

15. The construction recited in the preceding claimA characterized in that said cleaner includes an agitator which is'connected by a belt to a driving pulley connected to and declutchable with said declutchable fan. 1

16. The construction recited inthe second preceding claim characterized in that spring'means normally hold said 'clutch closed and resiliently oppose the declutching action.

1v. The construction recifedm the third preceding claim characterized in that said plunger isY provided at its end with a contact member which is connected to it thru a bearing and is adapted to remain stationary when contacted by the dusting tool unit.

18. The construction recited by the fourth preceding claim 'characterized in that said declutchable fan is rotatably mounted on said plunger and that said yplunger rotates relative thereto when declutched.

19. In a suction cleaner of. the type in which f the suction-creating means include a plurality of y fans, a Amotor including a plurality of circuits for various speeds connected tosaid fans, a surface circuits and to open said clutch.

20. In a suction cleaner adapted for on-thefloor cleaning and for off-the-'oor cleaning, suction-creating means including a plurality of fans, a driving motor for said fans, means connecting said fans to said motor, an on-the-iloor cleaning nozzle connected to said suction-creating means, surface-agitating means positioned in said nozzle, means connecting said agitatingmeans to said driving motor, means to convert said cleaner from an on-the-oor cleaner to an oi-the-oor cleaner, and means responsive to said conversion to `disconnect certain of said fans and said agitating means from said motor.

` 21. In a suction cleaner, a motor including a rotor, bearings rotatably supporting the ends of said rotor.. a fan connected to said rotor at each of its ends outside saidvbearings, a clutch interposed between one of said fans and said rotor, and means extended centrally through said rotor and operable from the opposite side thereof to open and close said clutch. l

22. In a suction cleaner adapted for on-thefloor cleaningv and for oil-the-oor cleaning, y

suction-creating means, a driving motor including a plurality of circuits for various speeds connected to said suction-creating means, an agitator, power-transmission means between said motor and said agitator, means to declutch said agitator from said motor, an on-the-oor cleann ing nozzle connected to said suction-creating means, means to convert said cleaner from an on-the-floor cleaner to an off-the-floor cleaner,

and means responsive to said conversion to close certain of said motor circuits.

23. In a suction cleaner, a cleaning nozzle, a'

agitator in said nozzle, a plurality of fan cham- I bers individually connected to said nozzle, fans in said chambers, driving means for said fans and agitator, means to seal one of said chambers from said nozzle, and means operative upon the sealing of said` one chamber from said nozzle to disconnect said agitator from said driving means.

25. In a suction cleaner, a cleaning nozzle, an agitator in said nozzle, a plurality of fan chambers connected to said, nozzle, fans in said chambers, driving means for said fans and agitator, means to seal one of said chambers from said nozzle, and means operative upon the sealing of said chamber from said nozzle to disconnect said agitator and a fan in a second chamber from said driving means.

26. In a suction cleaner, a body, a `dusting tool seat on said body, a driving motor, suctioncreating means in said body driven by said motor and to which a dusting tool unit connects, a surface covering agitator, power-transmitting means between said motor and said agitator, a clutch, and means actuated by the seating of a dusting tool on said body to operate said clutch' to declutch said agitator from said motor.

27. In a suction cleaner, a body, a driving motor, suction-creating means in said body driven by said motor, a dusting tool seat on said body in which a dusting tool unit is adapted to seat to be connected to said suction-creating means, a surface covering agitator, power-transmitting means between said motor and said agitator, and means operative upon the physical movement of a dusting tool unit to connect it to said suction-creating means to disconnect said agitatorvfrom said motor. Y

. WILLIAM D. SELLERS.

EARL BABCOCK. 

